Cigar lighter



Aug. 6, 1940. J, H, COHEN 2,210,025

C IGAR LIGHTER Filed Aug. l, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I f f'iz z/zzza 329 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. H. COHEN CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Aug. 1, 195e zzz l x 1 20 z/Zz z5 Aug. 6, 1940.

Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGAR LIGHTER Joseph H. Cohen, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner to Automatic Devices Corporation,

Bridgeport,

26 Claims.

This invention relates to electric cigar lighters.

In such devices of all ldnds, there has always existed the danger of fires being caused by the overheated heating element when the energizing current has been allowed to remain connected to the heating element for so long a time that things in the vicinity of the heating element, be they parts of the cigar lighter or adjacent things, are made so hot that they begin to smolder or burn. This condition may be caused by the failure of the user to open, or to permit to open, the circuit through the heating element, or by the failure of an automatic circuit-opening mechanism in such devices as are so intended to operate.

This danger and disadvantage is obviated by the present invention by the provision of means for opening the heating element circuit in response to dangerous over-heating of said element, said means including a fusible means, and including means for opening the circuit when the fusible means melts, and also including means for causing the fusible means to melt when the heating element becomes dangerously hot. The operation of the various parts is such that the melting of the fusible means and the opening of the circuit takes place before dangerous heat can be transferred to adjacent objects.

In some types of electric cigar lighters heretofore manufactured, in which the heating element is visible at all times, or in which the circuit through the heating element is manually held closed, the present invention may advantageously be employed, for it prevents damage resulting from inattention on the part of the user.

However, in electric cigar lighters of the type in which the heating element is not plainly visible to the user, or in which the circuit through the heating element is automatically maintained closed until the heating element is brought to a predetermined temperature for use, whether such device operates under time or heat control, the present invention has special utility and is particularly advantageous, for it prevents damage resulting not so much, if at all, from negligence, as from an unsuspected mechanical or rather technical fault or failure.

For instance, in a thermostatically controlled cigar lighter, such as shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein by way of example, should the igniting unit fail to move to open-circuit position automatically when the heating element is hot enough to use, the continued flow of current through the heating element would cause the latter to become much (Cl. 21B-32) hotter than is intended, and the resulting abnormal heat would be conducted through the adjacent parts, heating them to higher temperatures than they are designed to withstand. If this con-dition prevails long enough, there is 5 grave danger of the cigar lighter being destroyed, especially the parts thereof made of a composition, and danger of adjacent things burning or being charred, and also of the battery supplying current to the device being drained. l

As constructed, there is very little likelihood of the device of this invention failing in its normal and proper automatic operation. Nevertheless, due to abuse in use, excessive improper use or natural fatigue of the parts after having been used over` a long period of time, there is the possibility of such failure. If such failure should occur, the present invention reduces the effect thereof to the destruction of but one single part of the device.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the device of the present invention, and showing the igniting unit in open-circuit position.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l, but showing the igniting unit in circuit-closing position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the fusible member with the web portion thereof melted.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing another form of this invention where the fusible member is located on the holding device.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 5, showing another modification of this inventionone in which the fusible member is replaceable.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the present invention is applied to an automatic cigar lighter of the type in which the igniting unit is completely removed from the holding device for use. In the particular device illustrated, the holding device comprises a well or socket ID adapted to be mounted in a hole in an instrument board Il of an automobile, with a iiange l2 on the well in engagement with the face of the instrument board. The well is secured in place by a U-shaped clamp I3 apertured to slide over a boss I 4 extending from a plate I5 secured to the bottom I6 of the well.

The igniting unit is a generally cylindrical member to fit the cylindrical well II), and has a handle portion II adapted to project from the Well by means of which the igniting unit is grasped for operation and handling in use.

At its inner end, the igniting unit is provided with a heating element I8 in the form of a coil of high resistance wire I9 which, upon energization, is made hot-usually incandescent-so that when it is applied to the end of a cigar or cigarette, it will ignite the same. The resistance wire I9 is carried in a cup 20 suitably mounted on a heating element body 2|, which body is provided with a screw-threaded portion 22 engaging a screw-threaded portioz/` 23 on the igniting unit. It is by means of the screw-threaded connections 22, 23 that the heating element is removably mounted on an igniting unit so that it may be replaced if desired.

The igniting unit is made up of several other parts including a portion 24 which carries the screw threads 23 and which is usually made of insulating material, a sleeve 25 usually made of metal, and a screw-threaded connection with the portion 2li. The sleeve 25 has threaded on its outer end the handle or knob I'I. In addition to this, vthe igniting unit includes an ejecting member in the form of a sleeve 26 slidably mounted on the sleeve 25 and the handle portion Il. At its outer end, the sleeve 2S has a flange 2l adapted to engage the flange I2 of the well when the igniting unit is in normal position in the well. At its other end, the sleeve 26 has a ilange 28 eX- tending inwardly and adapted to slide on the sleeve 25 in the space thereof between the insulating member 2li and the end of the knob or handlev Il. Normally, the sleeve 25 is located in the position shown in Fig. 1, where the flange 28 engages the front edge of the insulating member 2d, and said sleeve is held in this position by an expansion spring 2S which is compressed when the igniting unit is moved from its normal opencircuit position shown in Fig. 1 to its closed-circuit position shown in Fig. 2.

As stated above, the cup 2D encloses the heating wire I9, but, in addition, it `is also connected to the outer convolution of the wire coil to constitute onecontact in the circuit including the heating wire. The other contact on the igniting unit is constituted by the heating element body ZI `which engages with the Wall of the Well II). Usually, the well is grounded on the motor vehicle by reason of the engagement with the instrument board II, but, if for any reason it is not connected to the battery through grounding, a suitable wire from the instrument board may be connected in any way desired to the well.

' Within the shell, and in position to be engaged by the cup 20, are contacts 30 secured to the bottom plate I5 in the well by a stud 3|. The stud is insulated from the boss I4 by a sleeve of insulating lmaterial 32, and the contacts are insulated from the plate I5 by an insulating washer 33. The stud 3| projects beyond the boss Ill, and at its outer end is provided with nuts 34 and 35. The nut 34 is insulated from the end of the boss by a nbre washer 36. When the nut 34 is tightened, the head 31 draws the contact 30 and insulating washer 33 tightly against the bottom plate. vA wire 38 from the battery or other suitable Isource of current is usually provided with a lug'33 received by the threaded end 40 of the stud 3| and is clamped to the stud in rm electrical contact therewith by the nut 35.

When the heating element of the igniting unit is to be connected to the source of current, so as to be energized and brought to incandescence for use, the knob portion I'I is pushed inwardly. This causes, in the form of the invention herein disclosed, the entire igniting unit to be moved inwardly, with the exception of the sleeve 26 which remains relatively stationary, and causes the spring 29 to be compressed. In so moving inwardly, the cup 2U of the heating element is brought into engagement with the contacts` 36, and, at the same time, positive electrical connection between the body 2| of the heating element and the well is insured by a resilient tongue 4I on the shell engaging a flange l2 on the heating element body 2|.

In the device illustrated herein, when the cup 2i? engages the contacts 3G, the latter embrace the cup with s'uicient resiliency to hold the igniting unit in energizing position shown in Fig. 2, because of the tension of the contacts 33 and inwardly bent portions 33 thereof which engage over the ends of the cup. The igniting unit is held in this-position against the tendency of the spring 29 to return it to de-energzing position.

As stated above, the cigar lighter illustrated herein, byway of example, is of the automatic type, and, accordingly, the contacts 30 are made of bimetallic material, or of such other material that when the heating element has been brought to the desired temperature for use, the contacts 30 will have spread apart sufficiently to release the cup from their grasp so as to allow the igniting unit to return to open-circuit position shown in Fig. l through the action of the ejecting spring 29. The igniting unit may then be taken from the holder so that the heating element i3 may be applied to the end of a cigar or cigarette to ignite the same.

With Vthe automatic cigar lighter herein disclosed, when a driver of a vehicle desires to light a cigar or cigarette, he merely pushes in on the knob or handle I I to bring the igniting unit into energized position. He then reaches into his pocket to obtain the cigarette or cigar, and, during the few seconds required for this, the heatingy element is being brought to incandescence, after which the igniting unit moves to ejecting position shown in Fig. 1 with a slight clicking sound Which indicates to the user that the heating element is ready for use. In additionV to this signal, the knob I'I is usually made of transparent material and is in light-conducting relation with the heating element, so that, when the heating element is incandescent, the knob Il or a portion thereof is made to glow. In the form shown, the knob Il itself is made of a material substantially opaque, but the end of the knob has a lens i4 which is caused to glow by light emanating from the heating element.

With the device thus far described, when functioning in its intended manner, there is no danger of the cigar lighter becoming over-heated, for, when the heating element reaches the desired temperature, the bimetallic contacts 30 release the heating element, and thus the igniting unit, for movement to open-circuit position.

However, to guard against the dangers and damages resulting from over-heating of the heating element because of some improper use or abuse of the device by the user, or because of some failure of the device properly to operate, the

present invention provides means for opening the circuit through the heating element when this dangerously over-heats, said means including a fusible element, and including means for causing the fusible element to melt vat a predetermined over-heat temperature of the heating element. In exempliflcation of this, the present invention provides a meltable link in the electrical connections feeding current to the heating element, and in such close proximity to the heating element that when said element approaches a dangerous degree of heat, the fusible link will melt and cause the circuit to be opened permanently.

Several forms of the invention are illustrated herein as exemplary thereof. In one of these, a fusible member is carried by the igniting unit, and in another it is carried by the holding device. The former arrangement will be described first, attention being called to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

It will be recalled that it was stated above that current was carried to the heating wire I9 by the body 2| of the heating element. However, the body 2| is not directly connected to the heating element, but is connected thereto through the intermediary of the fusible member.

For this purpose, the inner convolution of the resistance wire I9 is connected to a stud 45 and extends toward the handle portion through the body 2| of the heating element. It is held centralized within the body portion 2| by a suitable form of insulation, such as a body A46 of porcelain, lava, or other ceramic material. This insulating body 46 is located within the metal body portion 2| and has a central aperture 4T through which the stud 45 extends.

The insulating body 46 is slightly shorter than the metal portion 2| of the body, and on its inner end supports a fusible member 48. This fusible member has an annular portion 49, see Figs. 3 and 4, resting on the outer edge of the insulating body 46 and is secured thereto by a flange 55 spun over from the body 2|. It is thus brought into intimate contact with the body 2|, and, besides, held mechanically in place. The fusible member 49 also has a central portion 5| having an aperture through which the stud 45 extends.

In assembling the device, after the flange 50 is spun over, a metal washer 52 is placed over the stud and against the inner portion 5| of the fusible member, and then the stud is riveted over to provide a head 53. Between the annular portion 49 and the central portion 5I, the fusible member has a web 54 of such width and cross section that it will melt when subjected to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined length of time. When in energizing position, current is carried to the cup 20 of the heating element by the contacts 3S, then through the resistance wire I9 to the .central post or stud 45, then to the central portion 5| of the fusible member, then through the web 54 to the annular portion 59 of the fusible member, and through the latter to the body portion 2| of the heating element and through the latter to the Well IU. If the igniting unit should fail to move to opencircuit position for any reason and the circuit remains closed, the consequent over-heating of the heating element will cause heat to be conducted through the stud 45 and body member 2l to the fusible member 48, and when excessive heat has been applied to the fusible member for a sufiicient length of time, the web portion 54, which is the weakest link in the chain of connections, will melt and cause the circuit to be opened.

In over-heating, the heating wire |9, the cup 20, and adjacent parts will, in most cases, be damaged to a point that they may not be safely used again. Accordingly, in the event of the fusible member melting, it is deemed advisable, in most instances, to replace the entire heating element rather than the fusible element. It is also deemed advisable to arrange the fusible element in such a way that it may not be replaced by an ordinary mechanic, for such a person may apply a fusible element of improper melting point, or one which will not melt at all, thereby defeating and rendering of no effect the protection which it is desired to afford to the owner and user of the cigar lighter.

However, if desired that the fusible member be replaceable, this may be done, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, by providing an abutting connection between the fusible member 48a and the end of the body portion El of the heating element. In this case, the central portion 5|a of the fusible member 48a is fixed to the stud 45a carrying the insulating sleeve 45a, which stud is connected to the inner convolution of the heating wire I9 by a screw 55. This fusible member 48a also has the web 54d which melts when it has been subjected to the predetermined heat for a predetermined time.

In some cases, it is desirable to open the circuit between the source of current supply and the entire cigar lighter in the event of the cigar lighter being subjected to excessive heat. This may be accomplished, as shown in Fig. 5, by proe viding a fusible member between the stud to which the feed wire 38 is attached and the contacts 3B. As shown in Fig. 5, the end of the stud Sib receives the apertured central portion 5|b of the fusible member 48h, and the pieces of which the contacts 35 are formed are provided with an enlarged hole providing an annular portion 56 engaging the annular portion 49h of the fusible Ymember and held in contact therewith by a disk 5'! of ceramic or similar material engaged by the head 58 of the stud SIb. The fusible member 48h is held out of contact with the bottom plate I5 by a washer 59. When the device is assembled, a reduced portion on the i'nsulating body 5l' centralizes the contact piece, and the periphery thereof clamps the contact piece to the annular portion 4gb of the fusible member while a shoulder B on the stud clamps itself into firm electrical engagement with the central portion 4|b of the fusible member. When the heating element is in energizing position, heat in transmitted by radiation and convection to the head 5| of the stud, through the stud to the central portion 5|b of the fusible member, and by conduction through the contacts 323 to the annular portion .48h of the fusible member. When the latter has been subjected to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, a web 54h will melt and open the circuit.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used Without others.

I claim:

1. A cigar lighter comprising two main parts, one of said parts constituting a holding device and the other of said parts constituting an igniting unit having a heating element thereon, said igniting unit being adapted to be supported by the holding device and removable therefrom for use after the heating element has been energized and br'ought tothe desired temperature; an' energizing circuit for the heating element including cooperating contacts carried by the two parts, said circuit being closed by manual movement of at least a portion of said igniting unit with respect to said holding device; a heat-conducting member of relatively large cross-sectional area mounted on one of said parts and extending into good heat-receiving relation with the heating element; and a fusible element disposed in said circuit and connected to said member in direct thermal connection therewith so as to be heated by heat transmitted thereby in accordance with the heating of the heating element and adapted to be melted by heat from the heating element when the temperature of the heating element exceeds that desired for use to cause said circuit to be permanently opened.

2. A cigar lighter holding device having a socket for supporting an igniting unit for complete removal for use after a heating element on the igniting unit has been heated to a desired temperature; contacts carried by said socket in spaced relation and insulated from one another, said contacts, when electrically connected by said removable igniting unit and the heating element thereof, forming an energizing circuit for the heating element; a terminal on said socket; means for connecting a source of energy to said terminal; and means for maintaining electrical connection between said terminal and one of said contacts, said means including a fusible element disposed between said terminal and said contact; and heat-conducting means of relatively large cross-sectional area extending into good heat-receiving relation with the heating element for conducting heat from said heating element to said fusible element to melt the same upon a predetermined overheating of said heating element and cause said contact to be permanently electrically disconnected from said terminal connected to the source of energy, said heatconducting means being in good heat transfer relation with said fusible element.

3. A cigar lighter comprising a holding device having a socket; an igniting unit supported by the socket for complete removal for use after a heating element on the igniting unit has been heatedto a desired temperature; contacts carried by said socket in spaced relation and insulated from one another, said contacts, when electricallyv connected by said removable igniting unit and the heating element thereof, forming part of an energizing circuit for the heating element; thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the heating element for opening i the circuit including said contacts and the heating element when the heating element has reached a desired temperature for use, a terminal on said socket for connection to a source of energy; and means in the electrical circuit' between said terminal and the one of the contacts carried by the socket, which circuit includes the heating element, for normally maintaining closed a gap in said circuit, said means including a fusible member and a heat-conducting member of substantially large cross-sectional area extending into good heat-receiving relation with said heating element when energized, for conducting heat therefrom, said fusible member being heated by heat transmitted from said heating element by said conducting member to melt, upon a predetermined overheating of said heating element upon failure of said thermostatic means to open said circuit, and cause said energizing 'circuit to be permanently electrically disconnected from said `terminal connected to the source of energy, said heat-conducting member being in good heat transfer relation with said fusible element.

4. In a cigar lighter, aholding device; an igniting unit supported by the holding device, said igniting unit including an electrical heating element; means, including electric circuit means, for closing a circuit through the heating element; fusible means comprising a disk having an arcuate slot therein concentric with the edge and reducing the cross-section of the disk to a predetermined fusible area connected in said heating element circuit; means including a stud connected to the center of the disk for causing said fusible means to melt in response to overheating of the heating element; and contact means carried by the igniting unit for gripping the edge of the disk to prevent removal and replacement of said disk.

5. In a cigar lighter, a heating element comprising a coil of heating wire; a heat conducting stud attached to one end of the wire; a fusible element attached to the other end of the stud; a contact connected with the remaining end of the heating wire; a second contact connected with t'hek fusible element; means for insulatedly holding the said contacts in fixed relation; and means for mounting the heating element on the removable igniting unit of a cigar lighter.

6. A heating element for a cigar lighter, comprising a coil of heating wire; a heat-conducting stud attached to one end of the wire; a contact connected withthe remaining end of the heat- Ing wire; a second contact; means for insulatedly holding the said contacts in fixed relation; a fusible element; means for permanently attaching the fusible element to the heat-conducting stud and said second contact to electrically bridge the Y same so that the fusible element cannot be removed and replaced; and means for mounting the heating element on the removable igniting unit of the cigar lighter.

'7. A heating element for a cigar lighter, comprising a coil of heating wire; a heat-conducting stud attached to one end of the wire; a fusible element attached to the other end of the stud; a contact connected with the remaining end of the heating wire; a second contact; means for permanently attaching the fusible element to said second contact; means for insulatedly holding the said contacts in fixed relation; and means for mounting the heating element on the removable igniting unit of the cigar lighter.

8. A heating element for a cigar lighter, comprising a coil of heating wire; a heat-conducting stud attached to one end of the wire; a contact connected with the remaining end of the heating wire; a second Contact; means for insulatedly holding the said contacts in fixed relation; a fusible element; means for attaching the fusible element to the heat-conducting stud and said second contact to electrically bridge the same, at least one of said attaching means functioning to permanently secure the engaged portion of the fusible element so that the latter cannot be replaced; and means for mounting the heating element on the removable igniting unit of the cigar lighter.

9. A heating element for a cigar lighter, comprising a coil of heating wire; a heat-conducting stud attached to one end of the Wire; a fusible element having the shape of a disk, attached at its `center to said stud; a contact connected with the remaining end of the heating Wire, comprising a metallic cup substantially enclosing the heating coil; `a second contact comprising a metallic sleeve encircling the fusible disk, one end of said sleeve being turned inwardly over the periphery of the disk to permanently secure same to the sleeve; means for insulatedly securing the sleeve to the bottom of the contact cup so that it is substantially concentric about the axis of the cup; and means carried by the contact sleeve for mounting the heating element on the removable igniting unit of the cigar lighter.

10. The invention as dened in claim 9, in which the fusible disk is provided with an arcuate slot concentric with the center and periphery of the disk so that said center and periphery are connected by an integral web carrying the full current through the disk.

11. The invention as dened in claim 9, in which the end of the heat-conducting stud passes through the center of the fusible disk, and is headed over thereon to permanently secur-e the latter thereto.

12. The invention as dei-ined in claim 8, in which the second contact is a metallic sleeve, and in which the fusible element is a disk having its periphery secured to the sleeve, said element being permanently secured to the heatconducting stud by the latter passing through the center of the disk and being headed over thereon.

13. A heating element for a cigar lighter, comprising a coil of heating wire; a heat-conducting stud attached to one end of the wire; a contact connected with the remaining end of the heating wire; a second contact; means for insulatedly holding the said contacts in fixed relation; a fusible element; means for demountably attaching the fusible element to the heat-conducting stud and said second contact to electrically bridge the same; and means for mounting the heating element on the removable igniting unit of the cigar lighter.

14.. The invention as defined in claim 13, in which the second contact is a metallic sleeve, in which the fusible element is a metallic disk at its periphery, engaging the edge of the sleeve, and in which the means for attaching the fusible element comprises a screw passing through the center of the disk and screwing into the end of the heat-conducting stud.

15. A heating element for a cigar lighter, comprising a coil of heating wire; a heat-conducting stud attached to one end of the wire; a fusible element in the shape of. a disk attached at its center to the other end of the stud; a contact connected with the remaining end of the heating Wire; a second contact comprising a metallic sleeve connected with the periphery of the fusible disk; means for insulatedly holding the said contacts in fixed relation; and means for mounting the heating element on the removable igniting unit of the cigar lighter.

16, The invention as defined in claim 15, in which the disk has an arcuate slot therein concentric with the center and periphery thereof, providing an integral web connecting these latter, said web carrying the entire current through the disk.

17 In a cigar lighter, a removable igniting unit to be supported by a holding device, said igniting unit being plug-like in form and tubular in shape at one end thereof; a heating element carried by the igniting unit at the tubular end,

said element having a coil of heating wire and a sleeve-like contact insulatedly secured to said coil; screw threads on said sleeve contact and on the tubular end of the igniting unit whereby the heating element may be screwed tc said unit; a fusible element in the shape of a disk adapted to be secured at its periphery between the igniting unit and the contact sleeve when the latter is screwed to said unit and to contact with said sleeve, said disk being in heat-receiving relation with the heating element; and means for electrically connecting the disk substantially at its center to one end of the heating coil.

18. A heating element for a cigar lighter, comprising a coil of heating Wire; an electrical connection member attached to one end of the wire; a fusible element secured to said lconnection member to be in heat-receiving relation with the heating element; a contact connected with the remaining end of the heating wire; a second contact connected with the fusible element; means for insulatedly holding the said contacts in xed relation; and means for mounting the heating element on the removable igniting unit of the cigar lighter.

19. In a cigar lighter, a removable igniting unit adapted to be supported in a holding device, comprising an elongate plug-like body having a longitudinal light channel therein; a heating element; means for securing the heating element to one end of the body so that light therefrom can pass through the longitudinal channel; electrical contact on the body of the igniting unit, adjacent the heating element; and a fusible member carried in the channel of the igniting unit to receive heat from the heating element, said member connecting one end of the heating coil with said contact, and having an aperture therein so that light from the heating element can pass therethrough to traverse the entire length of the channel.

20. The invention as dened in claim 19', in which the fusible member is a disk disposed transversely across the channel and connected at its center to the center of the heating coil, in which the contact is a sleeve engaging the periphery of the disk and in which the aperture in the disk is arcuate in shape and extends about the central connection thereof, to pass a maximum amount of light from the element and so that a narrow integral current-carrying web connects the center of the disk With its periphery.

21. A heating element for a cigar lighter, cornprising a coil of heating Wire; a heat-conducting stud attached to one end of the wire; a fusible element attached to the other end of the stud; a Contact connected with the remaining end of the heating Wire; a second heat-conducting contact connected With the fusible element and extending in close proximity to the heating coil to receive and transmit heat therefrom; means for insulatedly holding the said contacts in xed relation; and means for mounting the heating element on the removable igniting unit of the cigar lighter,

22. A heating element for a cigar lighter, comprising a metallic sleeve contact; means for securing the contact to the removable igniting unit of a cigar lighter; a substantially cylindrical body of heat-resistant material carried within the contact and secured thereto; a coil of heating wire insulatedly secured to the contact at one end thereof; a heat-conducting stud attached to one end of the heating coil and passing through the heat-resistant body; and afusible element connected with the other end of the stud and With the adjacent end of the sleeve contact, for electrically connecting the same, said element being disposed so that the heat-resistant body is between it and the heating coil.

23. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit supported by the holding device for complete removal therefrom for use, said ignit ing unit having a heating element; current supply means carried by the holding device, and including a metal contact for engagement with the heating element, for energizing same; and a fusible element in said current supply circuit, having a direct heat-conducting connection With sai-d metal Contact for receiving heat from the same, said element being adapted to melt and open the circuit in response to overheating of the heating element.

24. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit supported by the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit having a heating element; a current supply means carried by the holding device, and including a bimetallic contact clip for engagement with the heating element, for' energizing thehsame, said bimetallic clip being adapted to respond to normal heating of the element by releasing the same to open the circuit therethrough; and a fusible element in said current supply circuit and having a direct heat-conducting connection With said bimetallic clip for receiving heat from the same, said element being adapted to melt and open the circuit in response to overheating of the heating element.

25. The invention as defined in claim 23, in which the current supply means includes a h eatconducting stud securing the contact to the holding device, said stud being insulated from the Contact and extending in close proximity to the heating element, When the latter is being energized, to receive heat from saine, `and said stud directly engaging the other end of the fusible element to conduct heat to same.

26. The invention as described in claim 23, in which the current supply means includes a stud insulatedly mounted on the holding device and detachably supporting said fusible element for ready replacement.

JOSEPH H. COHEN. 

